ICC Cricket Committee concludes two-day meeting at Lord’s

ICC Cricket Committee, chaired by Clive Lloyd, held their annual meeting at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London on 20/21 May 2010.

Among the recommendations were:

Decision Review System

The DRS workshop held with major stakeholders, broadcasters and technology providers in Dubai in March led to 14 recommendations being placed before the ICC Cricket Committee. After a lengthy and constructive discussion the ICC Cricket Committee suggested that the principle should be that DRS should be introduced as soon as possible in all Test series

The ICC Cricket Committee also recommends that DRS, subject to agreement with ICC broadcaster partners ESPN Star Sports, should be used in all matches in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. As in Test cricket each team will be allowed two referrals per innings. It was also recommended that further consideration should be given to using DRS in ODI cricket after the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.

The ICC Cricket Committee were also in agreement that a minimum standard of technology such as ball tracking technology, including in the third umpire room, should be introduced as well as annual reviews of technology and equipment. It was also recommended that a playing condition should be introduced that an umpire could check the legitimacy of a delivery in the case of a dismissal in all circumstances where he was uncertain as to the fairness of the delivery. It was also agreed that reviews would only be restored for technological failure rather than an inclusive outcome and that all reviews should be requested within a 15 second time frame.

Context for International Cricket

The ICC Cricket Committee supported, in principle, proposals for a Test play off every four years and a proposed league format for ODI cricket as well as research into a reduction in the number of teams in the ICC Cricket World Cup and more countries competing in the ICC World Twenty20. There was also serious consideration of the format for One Day Cricket and further discussions will take place after the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 after the results of various trials conducted in domestic cricket are available.

Floodlit Test match cricket

The ICC thanked the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and Cricket Australia (CA) for their research into coloured balls which could be used in day night cricket and now ICC will play an even more pro-active role in the development of a ball which could be used under floodlights. ICC will commission research into the ideal colour for balls to be used in day-night cricket and then work closely with the equipment manufacturers before conducting relevant trials.

The Cricket Committee also noted that there would also have to be further discussions on the matters of clothing colours, the number of overs bowled before a ball change and the start times required for day-night test matches.

Research into international cricket

David Kendix reviewed data supplied on run rates and over rates as well as the volume of cricket. The research by Mr Kendix revealed that while the average of volume of cricket for teams was stable that the number of days the top 20 players were engaged in had fallen by 10 per cent. The proportion of Test draws had fallen to 22.5 in 2009 and of the Tests with a positive result the average duration of 4.45 days.

Over rates in both Test and ODI cricket have improved from 13.78 per hour in Test matches to 14.05in the last two years while there was a greater rise from 13.57 per hour to 14.38 in ODI cricket. Run rates in Test cricket in 2009/10 was 3.3 per over while in the 1990s it was 2.87 per over. In ODI cricket the average run rate was 5.19 per over compared with an average of 4.97 in the previous five years.

Switch hit/Reverse sweep

Following a discussion on the switch hit/reverse sweep, the ICC Cricket Committee adopted the updated directive introduced earlier in the year which prevents the batsman from altering his grip or stance before the bowler enters his delivery stride. Should the bowler see a batsman change his grip or stance prior to the delivery stride the bowler can decide not to bowl the ball.

Batsman seeking to gain an unfair advantage

ICC Cricket Committee agreed that batsmen trying to steal ground when the bowler is running in to bowl should be discouraged. They will look at regulations that require a batsman to remain in his crease until the bowler’s front foot lands.

ICC Cricket Committee Clive Lloyd said: ‘The ICC Cricket Committee reflects the views of the game’s most important constituencies from players to coaches to administrators to umpires to match referees to the media, statisticians, broadcasters and lawmakers. Their opinions are important to the continued well-being of the great game of cricket. The high standard of debate and the passion showed by the committee reflected how seriously the committee takes its role.

‘At this meeting at Lord’s we had a wide ranging debate on everything from the DRS to the laws of the game as well as discussing the context of Test and ODI cricket and receiving reports from the ICC Women’s and ICC Medical Committees as well as ICC playing conditions. ‘